Household chemicals

chemical compound

Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the pseudoelement symbol for ethyl. Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a pungent taste. As a psychoactive depressant, it is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, and the second most consumed drug globally behind caffeine.

thumb|upright=1.3|A variety of flavored vinegars, for culinary use, on sale in France

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemical compound

Urea, also called carbamide (because it is a diamide of carbonic acid), is an organic compound with chemical formula . This amide has two amino groups (−) joined by a carbonyl functional group (−C(=O)−). It is thus the simplest amide of carbamic acid.

chemical compound

weak organic acid

Glycerol () is a sugar alcohol with chemical formula . It has three carbon atoms and as many hydroxyl groups. It is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid at Standard Ambient Temperature and Pressure (SATP). Because of its three hydroxyl groups, glycerol is miscible with water and is hygroscopic in nature.

chemical compound

Acetone (2-propanone or dimethyl ketone) is an organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest and smallest ketone (). It is a colorless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid with a characteristic pungent odor.

chemical compound

chemical compound

Borax (also referred to as sodium borate, tincal () and tincar ()) is a salt (ionic compound) normally encountered as a hydrated borate of sodium, with the chemical formula . Borax mineral is a crystalline borate mineral that occurs in only a few places worldwide in quantities that enable it to be mined economically.

organic compound used in the making of polyester fibers and in antifreeze formulations

simplest secondary alcohol

thumb|Clorox brand bleach

type of polyester commonly used for bottles and clothing

Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principally used as a specialized solvent, it is also a source of material for organic syntheses.

chemical compound

aqueous solution of ammonia

An antifreeze is an additive which lowers the freezing point of a water-based liquid. An antifreeze mixture is used to achieve freezing-point depression for cold environments. Common antifreezes also increase the boiling point of the liquid, allowing higher coolant temperature. However, all common antifreeze additives also have lower heat capacities than water, and do reduce water's ability to act as a coolant when added to it.

liquid mixture of higher alkanes from a mineral source, particularly a distillate of petroleum

pair of enantiomers

chemical compound

polymer

'''N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called diethyltoluamide or DEET''' (, from DET, the initials of di- + ethyl + toluamide), is the oldest, one of the most effective, and most common active ingredients in commercial insect repellents. It is a colorless to slightly yellow oil intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing and provides protection against mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, fleas, chiggers, and leeches.

Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide. As a medication, it is used to treat scabies and lice. It is applied to the skin as a cream or lotion. As an insecticide, it can be sprayed onto outer clothing or mosquito nets to kill the insects that touch them.

thumb|Lye for sale in a shop in Hong Kong

chemical compound

Phenoxyethanol is the organic compound with the formula C6H5OC2H4OH. It is a colorless oily liquid. It can be classified as a glycol ether and a phenol ether. It is a common preservative in vaccine formulations. It has a faint rose-like aroma.

petroleum-derived clear, transparent liquid

chemical compound

2-Phenylphenol, or o-phenylphenol, is an organic compound with the formula . It is one of three isomers of monohydroxylated biphenyl. It is a white solid. It is a biocide used as a preservative with E number E231 and under the trade names Dowicide, Torsite, Fungal, Preventol, Nipacide and many others.

Inhalants are a broad range of household and industrial chemicals whose volatile vapors or pressurized gases can be concentrated and breathed in via the nose or mouth to produce intoxication, in a manner not intended by the manufacturer. They are inhaled at room temperature through volatilization (in the case of gasoline or acetone) or from a pressurized container (e.g., nitrous oxide or butane), and do not include drugs that are sniffed after burning or heating.

quaternary ammonium surfactant and antiseptic agent

Picaridin, also known as icaridin, is an insect repellent which can be used directly on skin or clothing. It has broad efficacy against various arthropods such as mosquitos, ticks, gnats, flies and fleas, and is almost colorless and odorless. A study performed in 2010 showed that picaridin spray and cream at the 20% concentration provided 12 hours of protection against ticks. Unlike DEET, picaridin does not dissolve plastics, synthetics or sealants, is odorless and non-greasy and presents a lower risk of toxicity when used with sunscreen, as it may reduce skin absorption of both compounds.

300px|thumb|Chemical structure of allethrin isomers 300px|thumb|Chemical structure of permethrin isomers

chemical compound

2-Butoxyethanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula (Bu = ). This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol. As a relatively nonvolatile, inexpensive solvent, it is used in many domestic and industrial products because of its properties as a surfactant. It is a known respiratory irritant and can be acutely toxic, but animal studies have not found it to be mutagenic, and no studies suggest it is a human carcinogen. A study of 13 classroom air contaminants conducted in Portugal reported a st

Tetramethrin is a potent synthetic insecticide in the pyrethroid family. It is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 65–80 °C. The commercial product is a mixture of stereoisomers.

Pyrethrum was a genus of several Old World plants now classified in either Chrysanthemum or Tanacetum which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy flower heads. Pyrethrum continues to be used as a common name for plants formerly included in the genus Pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is also the name of a natural insecticide made from the dried flower heads of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and Chrysanthemum coccineum. The insecticidal compounds present in these species are pyrethrins.

Polymethylpentene (PMP), also known as poly(4-methyl-1-pentene). It is used for gas-permeable packaging, autoclavable medical and laboratory equipment, microwave components, and cookware. It is commonly called TPX, which is a trademark of Mitsui Chemicals.

thumb|right|Mothballs thumb|upright|A packet of mothballs

chemical compound

substance which repels insects

chemical compound

Octocrylene is an organic compound used as an ingredient in sunscreens and cosmetics. It is an ester formed by the Knoevenagel condensation of 2-ethylhexyl cyanoacetate with benzophenone. It is a viscous, oily liquid that is clear and colorless.

alcohol used for germ protection

polymer

chemical compound

chemical product that removes paint, finishes, and coatings

chemical compound

chemical compound

chemicals commonly used in and around an average household

Windex is an American brand of glass and hard-surface cleaners—originally in glass containers, later in plastic ones.